"High concentrations of salicylic acid, the active ingredient in
aspirin, prevented the bacteria from adhering or colonising," Dr
Bandara said.

He found salicylic acid inhibited the production and activity of
surface-associated molecules in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, essential
for adhesion.

Dr Bandara said salicylic acid and other common non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), reduced the production of toxins
by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, lessening the destructive effects of
infection.

He said further research by the Vision CRC at the University of
New South Wales aimed to use NSAIDs to combat adverse responses to
contact lenses, catheters and other products made with
biopolymers.

Dr Bandara, who conducted the study as part of his PhD thesis,
said it may be possible to use NSAIDs on the surface of contact
lenses to provide an in-built antibacterial property.

But further research was necessary.

Eye Research Australia managing director Hugh Taylor said
contact lenses were the most common cause of eye infections but so
far, nothing was available to minimise the chances of wearers
becoming infected.

"This breakthrough with salicylic acid is very exciting,"
Professor Taylor said in an interview.

"If you could coat the contact lens with this and stop or reduce
the risk of infection, that'd be a major breakthrough.

"But certainly, it's not yet been proven in human studies and
that's what we'd need to do."

Prof Taylor said the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital in
Melbourne saw hundreds of people each year with contact
lens-related infections.

He said the risk of infection ranged from between one in 1000 to
one in 10,000 people wearing contact lenses per year, depending on
the type of lens.

"Many of them are minor but at times they can be very severe and
lead to a permanent loss of sight," Prof Taylor said.